YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 9

YACHTING

CORNWELL CUP FIRST RACE DECIDED AUCKLAND'S NARROW WIN (By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") TAURANGA, January 4. The resail of the first race for the Cornwell Cup started at 2.30 p.m. today in a light but steady northerly. All got away to a very good start, Christchurch, Paremata, and Auckland leading, closely followed by Wellington, Hamilton, Whangarei, Manukau, Plimmerton, Tauranga, and Lyttelton. The crews and boats were the same as in the original race. On the beat down the harbour to the beacon, 1J miles below the town wharf, Auckland worked to the centre of the harbour getting full advantage of the strong ebb tide, and soon went ahead, followed by Plimmerton and Christchurch. All the boats followed the three leaders. The order round the weather mark the first time was: Auckland, Plimmerton, Christchurch, Paremata, Tauranga, Wellington, Manukau, and Hamilton, all within two minutes. After rounding the mark all set spinnakers to starboard for the run- back to the town wharf. Auckland improved its lead from Plimmerton, with Tauranga, Christchurch, and Plimmerton close together. The first round completing times were: Auckland, 3h 25m 20s; Plimmerton, 3h 26m 355; Tauranga, 3h 26m 555; Christchurch, 3h 26m 575; Paremata, 3h 26m 595; Wellington, 3h 27m 355; Manukau, 3h 27m 50s; Lyttelton, 3h 28m 0s; Hamilton, 3h 29m 3s; Whangarei, 3h 30m 10s. The same conditions prevailed in the second beat to the weather mark. Auckland continued to gain, the crew sailing with good judgment. Auckland rounded the weather mark the second time lmin 28sec ahead of Plimmerton, with Christchurch, Tauranga, Wellington, and Manukau next in that order, and the others not far astern. Spinnakers were again smartly set for a run up against a very strong tide, and Auckland's lead was reduced to about a dozen lengths by Tauranga and Christchurch, which kept very close inshore, avoiding the strongest tide. The three leaders jibed off the Redoubt, setting spinnakers to port. The race was now in doubt, as only a few lengths separated Auckland, Tauranga, and Christchurch in this order. Auckland now steadily drew clear while Christchurch just caught Tauranga 10yds from the finish, which was timed as follows: —Auckland, 4h 31m 255; Christchurch, 4h 31m 555; Tauranga, 4h 32m 2s; Plimmerton, 4h 33m 40s; Wellington, 4h 36m ss; Manukau, 4h 36m 50s; Lyttelton, 4h 37m 255; Hamilton, 4h 37m 40s; Whangarei, 4h 42m 555. The second race will start at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning over a triangular course, and the third race will be held in the afternoon. ACCIDENTS IN SECOND RACE (By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") TAURANGA, This Day. The second race was sailed this morning over a triangular course, in a hard easterly wind and heavy rain. Plimmerttin led for over half-way round the course, then carried away the main halyard and retired. Tauranga then took the lead, but shortly capsized. Christchurch, which had been close third throughout, then went ahead. Auckland, from a good start, was doing well when the skipper left the other boats and stood right across the harbour on his own. It was a big mistake, as the boat was the last to finish. The times were:—Christchurch, llh 59m 525; Hamilton, 12h 7m ss: Whakatane, 12h 8m 40s; Wellington, 12h 9m 48s; Auckland, 12h 14m 275. The others did not finish. Lyttelton did not start.